Pack Details

Written Review

The concept of ultralight backpacking is founded on the idea of bringing only the minimum of what you need. This principle can be used not just in hiking, but also in other forms of travel in general. Whether you’re going on a road trip, a long bike tour, or backpacking across several continents, going ultralight allows you to move faster with less energy wasted carrying unnecessary gear. The Stuff Pack from Hyperlite is an ultralight and flexible backpack that you can easily bring along on any of your trips.

The ultralight characteristics of Hyperlite products, including the Stuff Pack, is achieved using the technology of Dyneema Composite Fabrics (DCF). More colloquially known as Cuben fiber, DCF is mainly composed of Dyneema, an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene that is extruded into a fiber through a patented process where the fiber is drawn, heated, stretched, and cooled. This fiber is then laid out in opposing grid orientations and sandwiched between thin layers of polyester film before being laminated together using a high-pressure autoclave. The result is a 100% waterproof, lightweight, and durable fabric with chemical and UV resistance, and the company has also incorporated it into their popular lightweight jacket, The Shell.

As its name implies, the Hyperlite Stuff Pack is a simple stuff sack that has the unique advantage of being made with DCF. The internal compartment has a total volume of 30 liters and the bag can carry a load of up to 10 pounds. An internal component that contains no internal pockets or dividers is both a boon and a curse; it makes the Stuff Pack very versatile in terms of application, but also makes it very difficult to organize its contents.

Weighing in at only 4.48 ounces, the Stuff Pack is an extremely lightweight pack. Being made of thin DCF material, the Stuff Pack can be folded down and compressed into a bundle that’s smaller than a tennis ball and stuffed into another bag or even in your pocket. This makes it an excellent “just in case bag” that works well with the company’s Southwest and Windrider packs, and it’s ideal for travel and carrying home purchases made on a trip.

With its dull gray finish, the Stuff Pack is also very inconspicuous. Belying how expensive the DCF material is, the Stuff Pack would not even warrant a second look even when walking through sketchy areas. The Stuff Pack’s roll top closure also makes it virtually pickpocket-proof, so you can worry less about having your valuables stolen when traveling with the Stuff Pack.

The HMG Stuff Pack is the perfect all-purpose pack to bring along on long road trips and bike tours. With its waterproof layer, the Stuff Pack can be set down on dirty or wet surfaces without soiling its contents. When its internal compartment is fully filled, Hyperlite’s Stuff Pack takes on a somewhat rectangular-cylindrical shape which makes for efficient packing in your car’s trunk or passenger seats. The lack of any internal organization does make it harder to retrieve items, however.

The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Stuff Pack is also an excellent companion on hiking trips. Being an ultralight pack, using the Stuff Pack helps to conserve energy and allows you to be quicker and more agile. The DCF material, sealed seams, and roll top closure mechanism provide excellent water resistance, ensuring that your tent, sleeping bag, or clothes remain bone dry. The Stuff Pack is sufficiently durable and is unlikely to tear or be punctured even as it encounters sharp rocks or branches.

Despite the ultralight and durable characteristics of the Stuff Pack, we wouldn’t recommend it as your main hiking backpack. Being designed as a stuff sack, the Stuff Pack does not have many of the features we’ve come to expect from mountaineering backpacks such as external pockets, hydration compartments, adjustable straps, and hip belts. The Stuff Pack has no provisions for quick access to critical items such as pocket knives, flashlights, or water bottles. With no advanced ergonomic features, carrying the Stuff Pack for extended periods of time may also prove to be uncomfortable.

The DCF shoulder straps also tend to bunch up and cut into your shoulders a bit, especially as you approach the max carrying capacity of the Stuff Pack. This is a minor complaint that is easily remedied by fashioning crude strap sleeves, but it’s still an inconvenience we could live without. The stitches of the shoulder straps also start to show signs of coming undone after several months of heavy use.

The Stuff Pack can still be very useful in hiking trips, but only as an extra pack that is used sparingly and in short bursts. It’s a particularly good assault pack for those times when you want to make a quick trek and don’t want to bring along a ton of gear and supplies. It’s also a great pack for resupply runs, as the ability to compress the Stuff Pack into a very small package means you no longer need to wrangle with an empty backpack.

Warranty

Hyperlite products, including the Stuff Pack, are manufactured in Maine according to the highest standards and using only the finest quality materials. If your bag fails within a year of purchase due to a manufacturing defect, you may return it to Hyperlite and they’ll gladly repair, replace, or refund your product at their discretion.

Keep in mind that this warranty only covers products purchased directly from Hyperlite or from an authorized dealer. Gear purchased from third-party websites such as Amazon or eBay are not covered by the warranty. Similarly, products that have undergone any modification or neglect, damage due to an accident, or have been used for commercial purposes, are no longer covered by the warranty.

Pros:

A no-frills internal compartment maximizes available space and makes the Stuff Pack an extremely versatile backpack

The dull gray design is inconspicuous, and the roll-top enclosure is pickpocket-proof which makes the Stuff Pack the perfect backpack for traveling to sketchy areas

Cons:

The lack of compartments and internal pockets can make the main compartment an unorganized mess, especially when storing a variety of small items

The Stuff Pack has no external pockets for quick access to critical items such as water bottles or flashlights

The DCF shoulder straps tend to bunch up when the Stuff Pack is loaded to full capacity, making them uncomfortable to wear

The stitches of the shoulder straps may begin to fray after several months of heavy use

Final Thoughts

The Hyperlite Stuff Pack can be one of the most versatile backpacks in your disposal. The pack’s DCF material makes it ultralight, durable, waterproof, and highly portable, and the Stuff Pack is a reliable backpack that will work well a variety of situations. Whether you’re backpacking across several continents, driving down highways for days, or hiking across mountains and rivers, Hyperlite’s Stuff Pack will prove to be a useful companion.